聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 The 18U Vipers competed in Sask Volleyball Provincials on Saturday, April 2, and Sunday, April 3. Here they earned a silver medal in Tier 3.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 The girls came out hard against Montmartre, but despite a tough battle were unable to earn the win.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Their next round robin game was against Xtreme Kaos, who were ranked 10th going into the tournament. The ladies put up their best efforts, but were unable to come away with the win.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 The Vipers then took on the tough Strasbourg team in crossover action, which left the girls to face the Prince Albert En Fuego in the second crossover match.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 In the game against PA the girls put in a great amount of effort, digging deeply after losing their earlier games in the day. They fought hard and took the match to three sets earning victory over PA.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 The next morning the girls found them in the Tier 3 semi-final match against Nipawin CNC. The girls played some of their best ball in this match-up. Passers were making perfect threes, while the setter was putting the ball up nicely for the hitters to crush. The girls easily handled CNC, taking the game in two sets.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 This put the girls into the Tier 3 gold medal game where they came up against the Northwest Lakers. The girls continued to battle and fight for every point. In a toughly fought final game the girls took silver.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Stepping up this season and throughout Provincials included Katy McEwen who was covering the floor and chasing down shanked passes, throwing herself into chairs and boards to put the ball up, while also finding success in the front row. Additionally her positive attitude was something unrivaled and she gave 100 percent on the court no matter what. The coaching staff unanimously voted her 鈥淪pirit of the Game,鈥� which is an award given to each team鈥檚 coaching staff at Provincials to award to one of the players.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Honourable mentions for this award went to the libero, Marcedes Singleton, who fell into her position because of a shoulder injury. She鈥檚 now met great success as a defensive specialist passing threes (perfect passes) off serve receive and during free balls, while continually hitting the floor to put up balls, just to get to her feet and do it all over again.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 A second honourable mention for the award goes to the team鈥檚 captain and main setter, Jordan Johnston, for the efforts she put forth throughout the season. Continually stepping up her game, she fought hard for each point throughout the season whether covering the floor, chasing down a tough pass to put up a sweet set, or taking a swing from the rightside for a kill.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 For some of the girls this competition marked the end of their season, which was overall good, with tough battles and friends made.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 For the majority of the team, however, the plan to take them to Nationals in their 18U year was set in motion and they will be attending it in Calgary, May 17-19. Some of the 15U team will be stepping in to fill these positions left by those unable to attend from the 18U team. The girls are all looking forward to the experience which comes with this kind of tournament and possibly taking in a Team Canada game versus Cuba if the schedule allows.
